'Children were getting really stupid': Joe Rogan explains reason behind America's shrinking IQ
AUSTIN, TEXAS: Joe Rogan, a well-known controversial commentator, has made a startling claim about how lead poisoning affects Americans' IQ. On his podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience', Rogan, 55, spoke with comedians Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir.
During the conversation, he claimed that lead poisoning had impacted Americans' IQ, pointing out a significant drop in intelligence level for most of the population in the 20th century.
‘Children were getting really stupid’
In the #1991 episode, Rogan revealed some worrying details regarding how Americans may have lost IQ points around the time lead was first added to gasoline in an effort to keep automobile engines operating smoothly. As it expanded and polluted society, adding lead turned into a major tragedy. The podcaster voiced his firm opinion that the terrible effects of lead paint are "f**ked up."
He further added, "They used to use lead paint until they realized children were getting really stupid." He elaborated on his statement by pointing out the detrimental consequences lead-infused gasoline has on local populations, saying, “Did you know that leaded gasoline, before they made unleaded gasoline, lowered everyone’s IQ in cities?” Rogan's guests were left in a condition of stunned silence by his astounding assertion.
‘Literal lead poisoning’
"Lead poisoning, like literal lead poisoning, from the sky. Because those cars… would put off blue f**king powder fumes out of the back of it. It was all awful," Rogan further added.
He found an article while looking for proof of the magnitude of the devastation which was titled 'Lead exposure in the last century shrank IQ scores of half of Americans'. According to research, lead-infused gasoline has caused Americans to lose over 800 million IQ points since the 1940s, which is the basis for what Rogan discovered.
People who were reportedly exposed to leaded gas experienced lead-related health issues, such as accelerated brain aging. With a presenter as outspoken as Joe Rogan, whose podcast has been one of the most well-liked for more than ten years, some of his episodes are likely to ruffle some feathers.